RE: Good 22 for squirrel hunting
I bought a bargain priced Marlin 25N years ago that has proven to be worry free and accurate as hell. Unfortunaley the trigger is pretty rough. However, with an old Bushnell 3-9 X 32 scope it is really a great small game gun. I have used it for squirrells and it is light and comes to the cheek pretty nice. I'm not touting it as a dream gun, but I don't panic when I bump it around a bit, and it is pretty tough, .. it takes more than a little rough use and stays completely functional.
I think Marlin still offers the same basic bolt action with a 7 shot magazine but now calls it the 925.
I think I paid $69.00 brand new for it at an old chain store called Korvette's in Southfield Michigan around 1983. I ended up buying 2 aftermarket magazines for it to carry loaded in my pocket.
Hard to beat the Ruger .22 though.
If you have no limit on your budget go for a CZ!!!